Highlights from Alternatives to Custody workshop

On 10 June 2015, the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies held the first of two planned workshops assessing developments in alternatives to custody in the UK since 2000.

The purpose of these workshops is to explore why expansion in the use of alternatives has not resulted in any reduction in prisoner numbers. We want to identify examples of good practice, as well as problematic areas, in the use of alternatives, as part of a wider European project aiming to reduce our reliance on prison.

In four sessions we covered: the political rhetoric on community sanctions, with its growing emphasis on punishment and control; the rapid expansion in the use of supervision since 2000 and its effects; the recent surge in electronic monitoring and tracking; the work of women's centres in providing effective programmes; and new work being developed in the supervision of young adults.

Click here for more information about the workshop and for the presentations.